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Jekh Saga #5
Royal
Luke Cipriani refuses to be pushed back into the closet, so when sparks fly between him and the secretive Alex Hauge, he’s quick to throw ice water on their fling. Luke decides next, that the best way to get the royal-blooded hired gun out of his system, is to find someone else to marry… and fast!
Enter Autumn Ray. Luke thinks the mysterious businesswoman relocated to faraway Jekh from Earth solely for their match, but the calculating princess of real estate has other plans. Jekh is rebuilding fast and is overdue for a population boom, and Autumn wants to be the government’s go-to lady for new developments...
The engagement was a way for her to get her foot in the door, and Alex isn’t about to let some scheming fraud from Earth come between him and Luke. He’ll do whatever’s necessary to break the newlyweds up!
When Luke discovers, though, that there’s more to his wife than meets the eye, he’s suddenly got his work cut out for him. While Alex is willing to go to incredible lengths to be with Luke, Luke doesn’t believe he should have to choose one lover over the other. On Jekh, there’s no such thing as “third wheel”, but if Alex and Autumn can’t ease their friction, someone will be the odd one out… and it won’t be Luke!
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2017
22 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
H.E. Trent
8 books35 followersH.E. Trent is the science fiction romance pseudonym of award-winning author Holley Trent.
Learn about her paranormal and erotic paranormal romances—including the psychic Viking ménages in The Afótama Legacy—at her website: holleytrent.com.
Subscribe to the H.E. Trent newsletter to get first glimpses of upcoming Jekh Saga installments and new release notifications at https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l....
Learn about her paranormal and erotic paranormal romances—including the psychic Viking ménages in The Afótama Legacy—at her website: holleytrent.com.
Subscribe to the H.E. Trent newsletter to get first glimpses of upcoming Jekh Saga installments and new release notifications at https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l....
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 23, 2018
The pages flew by in this one. I really loved Luke in Salvo, and his chemistry with Alex is off-the-charts HOT. I wasn't sure how Autumn would fit into things; she was a tough character to love at first, but I came to like her by the end, and the three of them made a good trio. I hope Autumn's sister Cree ends up with a story. She was a very fun character.
Now I have to WAIT for Brenna's book to come out!
Now I have to WAIT for Brenna's book to come out!
September 30, 2020
Where to start? A tankard is for ale, a tanker is for fuel. Now for the problems I had with this story. First off the *we are family!* battle cries weren’t as loud with this one. No McGarry this, McGarry that. Which was refreshing. But the characters still aren’t very like-able. Really any of them. With the exception of the heroine and her sister. Why do I keep reading? The world building is really good.
We don’t get meaty insight into the heroine’s (Autumn) mind until THIRTY PERCENT into the book. Huge problem. I keep wondering if she was going to be an afterthought to the relationship of the heroes (Luke and Alex). As more of the book slipped by, it became more apparent this would be the case.
At about 40% in, the heroine is attacked by Luke. He brings her to Jekh as a mail order bride. Obviously she isn’t in love with him. Obviously she’d have reasons for coming.
“Just give me something, Autumn,” Luke said. “Give me some reason that makes sense. Tell me that you’re really not the kind of person who’d cheat people.”
All based on Alex saying she is her father’s daughter. The same Alex who somehow isn’t his parents’ child. Double standard much? But this is never acknowledged on Autumn’s behalf.
“If I were going to do that, I certainly wouldn’t come here under my real name. I haven’t tried to hide anything, and if you look deeply enough, you’ll see that I’m being perfectly honest.”
“Yeah, but being honest doesn’t make you a good person. It just means you don’t waste energy in lying. You’re not doing a very good job of defending yourself.”
Why should she defend herself? He didn’t much care who she was, since he was using her to make Alex jealous. Again, this is never argued on Autumn’s behalf.
At this point I kept reading merely on the faint hope Autumn would tell them both to fuck off. Of course that never happens.
Alex describes Luke as a man who “means what he says.” But there are never consequences for when Luke is clearly wrong. There is no growth here.
It isn’t until - no joke - over 73% into the book that Autumn says she wants Luke. This is after she blackmails him into marrying her so she can stay on the planet and change her life (get away from her evil father) after she learns of Luke and Alex’s relationship. I don’t blame her one bit for using them. It’s small consolation after the way she was used. But the change of mind was jarring because there was no mention before the 72% mark. Complete lack of build.
“I guess…down the line,” she started, “Luke and I will have gone our separate ways and moved on with our lives.”
“A waste of time and emotional investment,” Alex said. “Time that could be spent with someone you actually want. Or do you even have emotions?”
And
“That wasn’t moot, in Luke’s opinion. Her having feelings was pretty fucking important. He couldn’t give a damn about people who were shamelessly ambivalent, but he didn’t abandon the ones who cared. A man as emotionally hungry as him would never turn away an opportunity for genuine affection. He didn’t know if that was what Autumn was offering, but he was open. He didn’t care if that made him a greedy bastard.”
Alex loathes her and Luke suddenly realizes she has emotions. But not just any emotions - attraction for him. It didn’t matter that he was an asshat dumping her. Or that Alex called her a fucking bitch. No. It doesn’t even matter that she has feelings. It only matters that she could have feelings for Luke.
Oh, did I mention how Luke is a dom? He sort of has to be. Because how else to explain how he finally gets Alex into bed? Or how he gets Alex into bed with Autumn? It could only be by his order. Writing the characters developing into true feelings for each other - which is wholly missing in the entire book - would be too difficult without the magical BDSM trope.
This is at 75%, really too late for me as reader to be invested in anything but wanting Autumn to become Jekh’s foremost real estate developer while flipping off these two losers:
“Luke considered himself to be a pretty good judge of character once he gave himself a chance to weigh all the facts. With some effort, the three of them could get along. Autumn was cagey, but he didn’t think she was dishonest. Like almost everyone else he knew who’d traveled to Jekh, she was both running away from something and toward something.
They had common ground and something to bond over if they allowed themselves to.”
Get along? What an offer. Eye roll. He certainly called her dishonest to her face! Too bad he couldn’t give her the benefit of the doubt at the same time he was trying to get into Alex’s pants.
At 79%:
“She was a person who couldn’t self-soothe because she didn’t know how and no one understood her and everything was too much.
“Cry it out, pretty girl,” he murmured. “Nobody has to know. I won’t tell your secrets.”
She wasn’t entirely certain that she’d care if he did.
She was tired of being an island that no one knew about.”
He still has zero interest in knowing her. Remember, he only changed his opinion based on what she could do for him. Actually, it’s why he brought her to Jekh - what she could do for him. This character is a toad.
At 80%:
“She was an attractive woman, and her beauty was more accessible when she unpinned and unzipped. A pretty plaything for Luke to devour.
“I love him,” Luke told her. “I swear, I do, but a few months ago, I would have just as soon choked him to death. I’m certain the feeling was mutual.”
Alex rolled his eyes.
Luke was wrong. The feeling hadn’t been mutual. Any feelings of violence Alex had felt in Luke’s direction had evaporated pretty quickly after the incident with the twins.”
She’s a plaything, not a real person or partner. Luke’s love for Alex is never seen developing. He has no insightful aha! moment. It’s all related to sex. Which is fine, except it leaves you with a hollow feeling. At this point I was yelling at Autumn to get away from these users.
The most honest line in the book:
“They could work—the three of them together—but coming together hadn’t been and wasn’t going to be easy. It wasn’t supposed to be, though.”
Too bad the rest of the story doesn’t support it. We’re never given a why.
And in true “I can’t write this bit because I don’t know how” fashion, the end is told by the star of the next installment.
“His infatuations for Alex and Autumn would have been evident to a blind person, and Autumn loved those men so much. She was awkward about it, but Brenna could tell she adored them because Brenna was used to being on the outside looking in and had learned the signs.”
Ironic how someone on the outside looking in sees another woman in the outside looking in. And how telling that the author uses the word “infatuations” here. That’s exactly what it is. Luke felt nothing for Autumn until her learned she could like him, that she thought he was attractive. And he needs her because however much he lusts for Alex, he knew it wouldn’t be enough - why he went for a mail order bride. Luke wants Alex more. Alex is still jealous - that’s NEVER explained away. This relationship is doomed. I hope Autumn dumps them after her residency requirement is fulfilled.
So there you have it. Maybe you can find a reason to root for this trio. I certainly couldn’t.
We don’t get meaty insight into the heroine’s (Autumn) mind until THIRTY PERCENT into the book. Huge problem. I keep wondering if she was going to be an afterthought to the relationship of the heroes (Luke and Alex). As more of the book slipped by, it became more apparent this would be the case.
At about 40% in, the heroine is attacked by Luke. He brings her to Jekh as a mail order bride. Obviously she isn’t in love with him. Obviously she’d have reasons for coming.
“Just give me something, Autumn,” Luke said. “Give me some reason that makes sense. Tell me that you’re really not the kind of person who’d cheat people.”
All based on Alex saying she is her father’s daughter. The same Alex who somehow isn’t his parents’ child. Double standard much? But this is never acknowledged on Autumn’s behalf.
“If I were going to do that, I certainly wouldn’t come here under my real name. I haven’t tried to hide anything, and if you look deeply enough, you’ll see that I’m being perfectly honest.”
“Yeah, but being honest doesn’t make you a good person. It just means you don’t waste energy in lying. You’re not doing a very good job of defending yourself.”
Why should she defend herself? He didn’t much care who she was, since he was using her to make Alex jealous. Again, this is never argued on Autumn’s behalf.
At this point I kept reading merely on the faint hope Autumn would tell them both to fuck off. Of course that never happens.
Alex describes Luke as a man who “means what he says.” But there are never consequences for when Luke is clearly wrong. There is no growth here.
It isn’t until - no joke - over 73% into the book that Autumn says she wants Luke. This is after she blackmails him into marrying her so she can stay on the planet and change her life (get away from her evil father) after she learns of Luke and Alex’s relationship. I don’t blame her one bit for using them. It’s small consolation after the way she was used. But the change of mind was jarring because there was no mention before the 72% mark. Complete lack of build.
“I guess…down the line,” she started, “Luke and I will have gone our separate ways and moved on with our lives.”
“A waste of time and emotional investment,” Alex said. “Time that could be spent with someone you actually want. Or do you even have emotions?”
And
“That wasn’t moot, in Luke’s opinion. Her having feelings was pretty fucking important. He couldn’t give a damn about people who were shamelessly ambivalent, but he didn’t abandon the ones who cared. A man as emotionally hungry as him would never turn away an opportunity for genuine affection. He didn’t know if that was what Autumn was offering, but he was open. He didn’t care if that made him a greedy bastard.”
Alex loathes her and Luke suddenly realizes she has emotions. But not just any emotions - attraction for him. It didn’t matter that he was an asshat dumping her. Or that Alex called her a fucking bitch. No. It doesn’t even matter that she has feelings. It only matters that she could have feelings for Luke.
Oh, did I mention how Luke is a dom? He sort of has to be. Because how else to explain how he finally gets Alex into bed? Or how he gets Alex into bed with Autumn? It could only be by his order. Writing the characters developing into true feelings for each other - which is wholly missing in the entire book - would be too difficult without the magical BDSM trope.
This is at 75%, really too late for me as reader to be invested in anything but wanting Autumn to become Jekh’s foremost real estate developer while flipping off these two losers:
“Luke considered himself to be a pretty good judge of character once he gave himself a chance to weigh all the facts. With some effort, the three of them could get along. Autumn was cagey, but he didn’t think she was dishonest. Like almost everyone else he knew who’d traveled to Jekh, she was both running away from something and toward something.
They had common ground and something to bond over if they allowed themselves to.”
Get along? What an offer. Eye roll. He certainly called her dishonest to her face! Too bad he couldn’t give her the benefit of the doubt at the same time he was trying to get into Alex’s pants.
At 79%:
“She was a person who couldn’t self-soothe because she didn’t know how and no one understood her and everything was too much.
“Cry it out, pretty girl,” he murmured. “Nobody has to know. I won’t tell your secrets.”
She wasn’t entirely certain that she’d care if he did.
She was tired of being an island that no one knew about.”
He still has zero interest in knowing her. Remember, he only changed his opinion based on what she could do for him. Actually, it’s why he brought her to Jekh - what she could do for him. This character is a toad.
At 80%:
“She was an attractive woman, and her beauty was more accessible when she unpinned and unzipped. A pretty plaything for Luke to devour.
“I love him,” Luke told her. “I swear, I do, but a few months ago, I would have just as soon choked him to death. I’m certain the feeling was mutual.”
Alex rolled his eyes.
Luke was wrong. The feeling hadn’t been mutual. Any feelings of violence Alex had felt in Luke’s direction had evaporated pretty quickly after the incident with the twins.”
She’s a plaything, not a real person or partner. Luke’s love for Alex is never seen developing. He has no insightful aha! moment. It’s all related to sex. Which is fine, except it leaves you with a hollow feeling. At this point I was yelling at Autumn to get away from these users.
The most honest line in the book:
“They could work—the three of them together—but coming together hadn’t been and wasn’t going to be easy. It wasn’t supposed to be, though.”
Too bad the rest of the story doesn’t support it. We’re never given a why.
And in true “I can’t write this bit because I don’t know how” fashion, the end is told by the star of the next installment.
“His infatuations for Alex and Autumn would have been evident to a blind person, and Autumn loved those men so much. She was awkward about it, but Brenna could tell she adored them because Brenna was used to being on the outside looking in and had learned the signs.”
Ironic how someone on the outside looking in sees another woman in the outside looking in. And how telling that the author uses the word “infatuations” here. That’s exactly what it is. Luke felt nothing for Autumn until her learned she could like him, that she thought he was attractive. And he needs her because however much he lusts for Alex, he knew it wouldn’t be enough - why he went for a mail order bride. Luke wants Alex more. Alex is still jealous - that’s NEVER explained away. This relationship is doomed. I hope Autumn dumps them after her residency requirement is fulfilled.
So there you have it. Maybe you can find a reason to root for this trio. I certainly couldn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
Luke and Duke
This is one of my favorite Trent books because of the range of emotions it evoked. It features Luke Cipriani, former FBI and current government contractor. He's the brother of Marcus (book four) and Precious Cipriani, and is openly bisexual. When his overtures toward Alex, a Norwegian royal, are rebuffed, he allows himself to be placed on a website that matches Jekh residents with Terrans on Earth. But when his selection arrives, she's nothing like what he expected. And to complicate things further, Alex is coming around to the idea of Luke, in spite of the consequences.
Autumn Ray is the daughter of a wealthy, powerful and unscrupulous Terran real estate developer. She is tired of being his scapegoat when things go wrong and has hatched a plan to strike out on her own on Jekh. But first she needs a disposable husband, which will give her legal status for residency. She has only one thing in mind, success, because failure isn't an option, and she'll do whatever it takes to get there. Then she discovers her younger sister, Cree, has stowed away on the spaceship. Her underage younger sister.
The first part of the book is about Luke and "Duke" and is fantastic character and personality development. I was totally onboard with their budding relationship, then Autumn arrived. The author did such a great job of presenting a woman who easily lied, manipulated and blackmailed to get what she wanted that, along with Alex, I was voting to put her on the first ship back to Earth. But, inexplicably, Luke sees something in her he believes is worth exploring. The question is whether he can get through to the real Autumn and be the bridge to keep Duke in his life as well.
A supporting character in this book, Brenna, is up in the next book. I'm looking forward to its release as I've become addicted to life on Jekh.
I received an ARC of this book and the opinions expressed are my own.
This is one of my favorite Trent books because of the range of emotions it evoked. It features Luke Cipriani, former FBI and current government contractor. He's the brother of Marcus (book four) and Precious Cipriani, and is openly bisexual. When his overtures toward Alex, a Norwegian royal, are rebuffed, he allows himself to be placed on a website that matches Jekh residents with Terrans on Earth. But when his selection arrives, she's nothing like what he expected. And to complicate things further, Alex is coming around to the idea of Luke, in spite of the consequences.
Autumn Ray is the daughter of a wealthy, powerful and unscrupulous Terran real estate developer. She is tired of being his scapegoat when things go wrong and has hatched a plan to strike out on her own on Jekh. But first she needs a disposable husband, which will give her legal status for residency. She has only one thing in mind, success, because failure isn't an option, and she'll do whatever it takes to get there. Then she discovers her younger sister, Cree, has stowed away on the spaceship. Her underage younger sister.
The first part of the book is about Luke and "Duke" and is fantastic character and personality development. I was totally onboard with their budding relationship, then Autumn arrived. The author did such a great job of presenting a woman who easily lied, manipulated and blackmailed to get what she wanted that, along with Alex, I was voting to put her on the first ship back to Earth. But, inexplicably, Luke sees something in her he believes is worth exploring. The question is whether he can get through to the real Autumn and be the bridge to keep Duke in his life as well.
A supporting character in this book, Brenna, is up in the next book. I'm looking forward to its release as I've become addicted to life on Jekh.
I received an ARC of this book and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 29, 2018
Great series
I have to say this has been by far one of my favorite from the series. I already knew that Luke's book was going to smoking hot and he definitely didn't disappoint. There are some serious challenges that occur like jealously but we also get to see compassion build the bridge to a learning trio. Overall a enjoyable and entertaining read. My only issue was I just wish I had more Autumn time, she was my favorite heroine since Erin in Crux. (book two of the series) I'm also looking forward to Brenna book can't wait to see what going to happen next.
I have to say this has been by far one of my favorite from the series. I already knew that Luke's book was going to smoking hot and he definitely didn't disappoint. There are some serious challenges that occur like jealously but we also get to see compassion build the bridge to a learning trio. Overall a enjoyable and entertaining read. My only issue was I just wish I had more Autumn time, she was my favorite heroine since Erin in Crux. (book two of the series) I'm also looking forward to Brenna book can't wait to see what going to happen next.
October 5, 2017
Take and Share Royal
This was the best out of the series. You will have family dysfunction, sexual interest followed by confusion, lies, stowaway a jealousy, the inability to reach out and grab what you want.
The array of characters and their personalities keep the story from being just run of the mill to highly entertaining.
I have voluntarily read and reviewed this book received from the author without obligation to do so.
This was the best out of the series. You will have family dysfunction, sexual interest followed by confusion, lies, stowaway a jealousy, the inability to reach out and grab what you want.
The array of characters and their personalities keep the story from being just run of the mill to highly entertaining.
I have voluntarily read and reviewed this book received from the author without obligation to do so.
September 20, 2022
I felt bad
I felt bad for the FMC. EVERYONE treated her horribly just bc of her last name. No one gave her a chance. They all called her out her name and NO ONE apologized. The author spent too much time on ‘the everyone hates the FMC’ part. The end is so rushed. Literally a waste of time. So glad I have KU.
I felt bad for the FMC. EVERYONE treated her horribly just bc of her last name. No one gave her a chance. They all called her out her name and NO ONE apologized. The author spent too much time on ‘the everyone hates the FMC’ part. The end is so rushed. Literally a waste of time. So glad I have KU.
January 27, 2019
I adore the love hate dynamic of Duke and Luke. A lot of fun how to see how they worked their stuff out. Autumn is a welcome addition to the cast. She’ll do well moving forward. All told, a good entry to the series.
January 15, 2021
Heroine unlikable & abrupt end
This is Luke's story which I really was looking forward to, but I really didn't like the heroine. I didn't like how the story progressed and I didn't understand why he went along with Autumn. Then there was an abrupt end that didn't explain anything.
This is Luke's story which I really was looking forward to, but I really didn't like the heroine. I didn't like how the story progressed and I didn't understand why he went along with Autumn. Then there was an abrupt end that didn't explain anything.
March 16, 2019
I loved the the guys in the trio, however, Autumn left me cold. Also the resolution was way too abrupt, I expected at least a longer discussion sbout them as a trio.
July 14, 2020
Royal
Another in the series saga that is planet Jekh. There is such a lovely family attitude with wide open sexual preferences in a lovely natural way.
Another in the series saga that is planet Jekh. There is such a lovely family attitude with wide open sexual preferences in a lovely natural way.
February 11, 2023
Keeps yon hanging on
Loved this story! I was rooting for Alex and Autumn to get their heads on straight the whole book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Loved this story! I was rooting for Alex and Autumn to get their heads on straight the whole book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
November 29, 2020
Loved it
I love this series. Luke Caption, couldn't wait for his story, and wasn't disappointed. Loved Luke and Alex, both very Alpha, equal parts stubborn and complete loveable a$$ holes. Luke refuses to keep his relationships in the closet, Alex's status demands he does. Luke's answer is finding a mail order bride.
Autumn wants to escape from under her father's thumb and build a business untainted by his reputation. She has long been his fall guy and the one to quietly make his wrongs right. She didn't count on Alex knowing who she is. She didn't want to stoop to her fathers level and blackmail Luke into marriage.
When look starts to see the real Autumn, he wants too keep her and Alex.
Alex isn't keen in sharing. Autumn can't imagine Luke wanting to keep her.
Loved Luke, Alex and Autumn's story. Luke is a master in manipulation. I loved Autumn's defense of Alex to his mother. Loved Autumn's sister Cree and Alex's best friend Oreva, and hope they both get a story. Can't wait for Brenna, Harris, and Rajon's story.
I love this series. Luke Caption, couldn't wait for his story, and wasn't disappointed. Loved Luke and Alex, both very Alpha, equal parts stubborn and complete loveable a$$ holes. Luke refuses to keep his relationships in the closet, Alex's status demands he does. Luke's answer is finding a mail order bride.
Autumn wants to escape from under her father's thumb and build a business untainted by his reputation. She has long been his fall guy and the one to quietly make his wrongs right. She didn't count on Alex knowing who she is. She didn't want to stoop to her fathers level and blackmail Luke into marriage.
When look starts to see the real Autumn, he wants too keep her and Alex.
Alex isn't keen in sharing. Autumn can't imagine Luke wanting to keep her.
Loved Luke, Alex and Autumn's story. Luke is a master in manipulation. I loved Autumn's defense of Alex to his mother. Loved Autumn's sister Cree and Alex's best friend Oreva, and hope they both get a story. Can't wait for Brenna, Harris, and Rajon's story.
June 16, 2023
Love
Absolutely in love with this series. Keep them coming. H.E. Trent has got me hooked on her series and looking for more like it
Absolutely in love with this series. Keep them coming. H.E. Trent has got me hooked on her series and looking for more like it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews